Diaphragm valve having an adjustably mounted pivoted pilot valve



Sept. 8, 1953 v w RA 2,651,326

DIAPHRAGM VALVE HAVING AN ADJUSTABLY M i MOUNTED PIVOTED PILOT VALVE Filed Jan. 23, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 all (Ma/0M F7. PQV,

- 1N VEN TOR.

Sept. 8, 1953 w. A. RAY 2,651,326

DIAPHRAGM VALVE HAVING AN ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED PIVOTED PILOT VALVE Filed Jan. 25, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (Mu/HM 0. my, IN V EN TOR.

QTTOQA/EI Patented Sept. 8, 1953 DIAPHRAGM VALVE HAVING AN ADJUST- ABLY MOUNTED PIVOTED PILOT VALVE William A. Bay, North Hollywood, Calif., assig'nor to General Controls 00.,

forma a corporation of Cali- Application January 23, 1950, Serial No. 139,990 13 Claims. (01. 137-657) This invention relates to a valve structure, and particularly to a structure utilizing the pressure of the medium for operating the valve.

More particularly, the valve structure incorporating the invention is utilized for controlling companying and forming part of the present the flow of gaseous fuel to a burner. The valve specification The form W111 now be de cribed closure for example may be mounted on a diain detail, illustrating the general principles of phragm, and the gas pressure urging the diathe invention; but it is to be understood thatphragm to open or close the valve is controlled this detailed description is not to be taken in a by a pilot valve. This pilot valve may be made limiting sense, since the scope of this invention responsive to a condition, such as temperature is best defined by the appended claims.

of a space or to the existence or non-existence Referring to the drawings:

of a pilot flame. Figure 1 is a vertical section of a valve struc- Such a valve is described in Patent No. 2,292,- ture incorporating the invention;

477 issued August 11, 1942, in the name of William Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views, taken respec- A. Ray. The pilot valve structure in that patent tively along planes corresponding to lines 2-2 includes a pair of jets in opposed relation. One and 33 of Fig. 1;

jet member is in communication with the inlet Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view side of the main valve, so that when the jet is of the jet members and associated parts;

open, gas pressure is applied to the diaphragm 0 Fig. 5 is a plan view of the mounting bracket to urge the valve to closed position. The other jet member is connected to a place of lower pressure, such as to the atmosphere. When the first jet is open and the second jet is closed, the diaphragm is urged to valve closing position. Conversely, when the first jet is closed and the second jet is opened, the pressure on one side of the diaphragm is relieved, and the gas pressure is effective on the other side of the diaphragm to open the valve.

tages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purfor the operating parts of the ture control; and

Fig. 6 is a pictorial view of a bracket structure employed in connection with the valve.

The main valve body large opening 2 at the top of the body, as well as an inlet chamber 3 and an outlet chamber 4. An inlet pipe connection 5 is threaded into the valve body for communication with the chamber pilot valve struc- 3. A pipe 6 is similarly threaded into the valve Control of the jets is effected by a pivotally body I for communication with the outlet chammounted member that extends between the jets. her 4. The member may be an armature for an elecsegregating these two chambers is a wall 7. trornagnet energized by a thermocouple that re- A port 8 is defined in the valve body to permit sponds to the pilot flame. Since only a minute communication with these chambers. A valve power is available for the operation of the elecclosure member 9 is arranged to rest on the tromagnet, the armature is necessarily delicatenarrow valve seat I!) that surrounds the port 8. ly mounted. Accordingly, the force used to seat This member 9 may be a yielding member, and the armature on the jet opening is also limited. is carried on the lower side of a flexible dia- Unless extreme care is exercised, the jet opening phragm II. This flexible diaphragm II closes will not be completely closed and undesirable the opening 2 and is held in an appropriate sealleaks occur. ing manner y t lower d e of a supplemental It is one of the objects of this invention to housing or casing I2 (see, also, Figs. 2 and 3). make it possible to obviate imperfect seating Bolts I3 (Fig. 2) serve to hold the housing I2 in of the jet controlling member, in a simple and place above the valve body I. inexpensive manner. In order to hold the valve closure member 9 It is another object of this invention to imagainst the lower surface of the diaphragm I I, a prove in general, valve structures of this charbolt I4 is used, passing through a heavy disc I5 amen on the upper side of the diaphragm I I. A washer invention-possesses many otheruadvanto l i i p dagainst the lower surface of the I is shown as having a member 9, and a nut H serves to hold the valve closure assembly together.

The valve, in this instance, is intended to control the passage of a gaseous fuel to a burner.

In the position shown in Fig. 1, the valve is closed, and communication between the inlet chamber 3 and the outlet chamber 4 is interrupted. However, when the valve closure 9 is lifted, communication is established.

A conduit I8 is shown as leading to the inlet chamber 3. In this way, the pilot burner is supplied with iuel independently of the position of the closure member 9. I

Opening and closing 'f the valve is effected by raising or lowering the diaphragm I! in response to preponderance of pressure on one or the other side of the diaphragm ll.

In order to control this gas pressure, is made of a pair of jet structures i9 and2i), that open into the chamber 21 ior'i nfed withinthe casing 12. Jet structure [3 is formed by a hollow threaded member 22 having a slotted screw head 23. It engages threads in the wall 2-4 or the casing l2. Bore 25 leads to the threaded aperture, and is threaded at-26 for the accommodatio n oi anexhaust conduit 2'1, A small bore 28 min i i or nm order to provide a iiuid-tight 'structure,a yielding packing washer '29 is provided surrounding the jet member 22 in the aperture 24. A compression spring 30 acts on a washer 31 to u ge the packing ifs into the bottom of the bore 25.

When the jetfopening 23 is uncovered. the gas in chamber 2| is iree to exhaust, and the inlet pressure operating on the lower side of the "diaphragm 11 serves to move the diaphragm and the valve closure structure to the open position.

The jet-structure 'zgissirnilaifto the jet structure just described. Ithas a jet-opening 3-2 opposed to opening 28, arrdfthi's opening 32' is in communication with the inlet chamber 3- of the valve body For this purpose, a-threaded aperture 33, inthe wal-l of casing 12-, isfp'rovide'd which is sealedby 'plu'gt't. port -35 leads downwardly fror'n'thi's aperture and is injcommunication'with casing jl. This port 36 opens into t he chamber 3.

is accommodated partly in the-casing l2 and partly inthe bodly 3providihg a tight'connection between the ports 35- and 3? through the diaphragrn H; Y

the jet opening-His open, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and-the jet opening 28' is "closed, inlet pressiire is available above the diaphragm H through ports 3fi-ahd35, arid the jet opening 32-, to urge the diaphragm H downwardly to close the valve. Since the area of the diaphragm H exposed to the inlet pressure on each side is substantially the same, the weight member It then causes the diaphragm l l to be urgeddow'nwardly. soon as clo'sure 9 seats upon the seat It), the area exposed to the pressure in chamber 2-! is greater than the area exposed-to the inlet chamber 3-. Accordingly, this preponderance of pressure serves 't'ohold --the valve closure 9 firm-lyon its seat.

Control-f the openings '2fi-a'n'd 32 is provided by control niember -38.; This is in the form 'ofa thin member that hasan operating end'39 which extends between the jets 19 and 20'. In the present instance, thecontrol member 38 is made of magnetic material to serve as an armature influenced-byan'electromagnet 40 (Figs. 1 and 2'). This electromagnethas a U-sha'pediron'cor-e 41. (Figs. 1 and 2-). The coil- 42 0f the electromagnet is mounted upon one of the legs 43. The other leg 44 (see, particularly, Fig. 4) is provided with a knife-edge 45 that serves as a pivot for the armature 38.

For supporting the core 41, use is made of a bracket 46 (see, particularly, Figs. 2 and 5). This bracket 46 has a flange 41 to which the leg 44 is spot-welded. The bracket 46 is attached to a pair of bosses 48 projecting downwardly from the upper wall of easing l2. This is accomplished by the aid of a pair of screws 49 threaded into the bosses and passing through slots 5,1 of the bracket. 7 7 V A supplementary bracket structure 50 '(see Fig. 6)v is provided having an aperture 56 for accomi'ri'odating and supporting the polar end portion of the leg '53.. bracket member is made of sheet metal, and has a base portion 5| contacting the lower side, of the bracket 46 and attached thereto, as by a 52. One portion of the si'i'ppl'ernent'ary bracket 50 is bent to provide a member 53 that closely contacts the outer surface of the core leg 4'4. A tongue 54 extends from the member 53 and is provided with a slot 55 for supporting the armature 38. This armature 38 is provided with slots 51, on opposite edges, to be accommodated between the opposed *ed'g'es of the slot -55. In this way, the armature 38 re:- strained against lateral movement.

A compression spring 59 urges the armature -38 to the unattracted position shown in Fig. 2-. A tail end of the spring is accommodated in an aperture provided in the arm 60; bf brabliet it. The other shorter tail end of the compressionspring 59 is accommodated in a depression 'Bl formed in the armature slightly beyond the knife edge 45. I

Further to steady the bracket- 59- respect to the bracket 46,, this bracket 50 has an outturned portion 62 that isac'commodated an aperture 83 in the bracket #5. M

The operating endae oi the armature 33 must quite accurately ffi't the end suriace's of the ifet members i9; and zefotmm-ne, gas leakage would occur. Difiiculties are comrnonly'encounteredin providing such accuracy, since usualiy a ra ping operation is required. 133;: the aidoi the present structure, this expens ye process is obviated.

The operating end 3 3; as shown ciea'rly in Fig. 4, is very slightly tapered, its side surfaces converging toward the end. Angular movement of the armature 33; about the edge 45 is effectedbet'ween limits by the electromagnet 40' when it is energized and teenageeir If the jet surfaces are paraliel', and*if"the fki'r'iie edge 45 is so located with respect to the-jets lfi a'nd 2 0 such that the V tapered en'd'iifl is jmo'vab'le symmetrically between the j'etsjthe caesium thatmust e fulfilled for a curate seating is as rerlows: The total angle of movement of the armature 38, such as mumstiateaby the run-use and dotted-line position, mustprecisely corre spond to the angle between the tapered end surfaces of the end-39, 'Th'e'extent of anguarin'ove';

ment of armature 38-' 'is,in turn, dependentnponj the spacing between the tp ds'ed surfaces of the jets I9 and 20. If the tapered'ends donot accurately seat against the parallel .iet surfaces, thenchanging the distance ot-the lt'niief'edg'e 45-ir'om the axis of the jetalso-adjusts the-angle through which the armature- 38 is inoi'a-ble.

The surfaces of the jets maybe moved-toward or away from each ot' "er by the aid 'o'fthe threadedinounting oi the ist 'members,=such*as by i'n'a nipulation of the slotted head 23. Also, the d-is tance of the knife e'dgeA-SI from the -axis o'f-the jts can be adjusted in amannr ts be hereinafter described.

In order to locate the knife edge in a position in which the tapered ends of the armature 38 are movable symmetrically between the jets, the bracket 46 is angularly adjustable. A pin 64 (Fig. 1), threaded into the upper wall of the easing [2, provides a pivotal mounting. It has a tapered head 65 forming a pivot surface proper, engaged by a V-notch 66 formed in an extension axis is normal to the axis of the jet openings 28 Furthermore, this axis of adjustment faces in determining the angle of movement of 'he armature 38 is substantially undisturbed.

The tapered surface 65 of pin 64 serves to restrain separation of the bracket 46 with respect to the pivot pin 64. Accurate positioning of the armature 38 can then be readily effected by careful angular adjustment of the bracket 46 and, consequently, the lateral arms supported on this bracket, including the electromagnet 4D and the armature 38.

The distance of the knife edge 45 from the jets may be adjusted by the aid of the supplementary bracket 50. Thus, the bracket 50 is adjustably secured to the main bracket 46, and

ends of the control member, or the difference be- Movement of the knife edge 45 is most effective in achieving this condition when the jet surfaces are inclined to each other.

Connections to the electromagnet 40 are provided by a pair of terminal structures (Fig. 1) insulatingly mounted in the upper wall of the The mounting is such as to seal the opening through which the terminal extends. The connections to the electromagnet may extend to a thermocouple structure influenced by the flame of a burner, such as an ordinary pilot burner, in a gas installation.

The inventor claims:

1. In a valve structure: a valve body having a ported partition "and a .valve seat around the port; a closure member cooperating with the seat; a movable wall carrying the closure member; means forming, with said wall, a pressure chamber; .a pair of opposed jets in said chamber for passing a gaseous medium into and out of said chamber; a pivotally mounted control member projecting between the jets and movable to and from each of the jets, said member havin 6 opposite sides cooperating respectively with the jets to close them; said sides having surfaces that become coplanar with the end surfaces of the jets as the side surfaces engage said end surfaces;

tween said jets.

2. In a valve structure: a valve body having a ported partition and a valve seat around the port; a closure member cooperating with the seat; a movable Wall carrying the closure member; means forming, with said wall, a pressure chamber; a jet having an opening in said chamber for the passage of a gaseous medium; a jet control member mounted on an axis normal to but displaced from the axis of the jet opening; said member having a side surface for contactseat; a movable wall carrying the closure member; means forming, with said wall, a pressure the bracket is adjustable angularly, said pin having an axis parallel to the axis of the pivot and adjacent the jet opening.

4. In a valve structure: a valve body having jet opening; said pin having a tapered portion received in a notch of the bracket.

5. In a valve structure: a valve body having a ported partition and a valve seat around the port; a closure member cooperating with the seat; a movable wall carrying the closure member; means forming, with said wall, a pressure chamber; a pair of opposed jets in said chamber become coplanar with the end surfaces of the jets as the side surfaces engage said end surfaces;

a inountingiorthe controIRmember; "means-pivotal-ly and a'djustab'ly rs'ecuring rsaid'imounting to said chamber sformingemans" roperableto permit angular adjustment of said "mounting with respect to saidsjetsaabout an axis parallel to the axis of rhov'eme t of the control 1 member, said parallel axis passing intenm'e'diatr-J- the "jet membersyan electrom'agnet for-moving said -'control member and means biasing said control member towardone of the-jets.

6. In a valve structure: a valveib'cdy having apor-ted pai'ti-tion andea walveiseataround the port; 'a 1 closure member cooperating with the seat; *a movablewall carrying the closure member; means forming, with said wa'll, a1-tpressure chamber; a j et having an' opening :in said chamber *for the {passage "of :a gaseous medium; a member ion opening and closing the jet; means providing a -pivotal support iorasai'd memben the axis -of"the=pivot being-normal to but displaced from the axis ofthe jet opening; -'a-bracket'for thejpivotal'support'; a pin about which the bracket is adjustable angular-1y, said pin having :an' axis parallel to "the-axis of the pivota'ndadj acentthe jetopening; an' electromagnet for moving's'aid control member; and. means biasing said control member against the force of the eleetroma'gnet.

l. Ina valve structureza pair of'jets having opposed openings for passing a gaseous-medium through the jets; '"a pivotally mounted control member: projecting between "the jets and movable to and-drum =each -of'tnejets, said member having opposite sides cooperating respectively with the jets 'to'close them; said sides having surfaces that become i-coplanar'with the end surfaces of the'jets; a mounting for the "control member; and meanspivotally 'andadjustablysecuring --said-mounting 'with respect to said ijets operable to permit relative 'angularmovement therebetween about n axis normal toathe-vj'et axes and between-said jet openings. "8; Ina valve-"structure: a jet havinglan opening for-passing a -gaseous medium through the jet;s'a jet control member mounted on an tax-is normal to but displaced from the'axisof the jet opening; said member having Va-side surface for contacting the -j et,- and slanting in such manner that the :jet surface and said side surface s are coplanar when the control member contacts the jet; a mounting for the control imember; and means pivotally and adjustably securing said mounting with respect tosaid jet operable :to'permit relative angular movement therebetween aboutan axis parallel to the axis of movement'of the control member, said parallel axis being :normal to the jet axis and adjacent said opening.

9. In a valve structure: a jet having an opening for the passage of a gaseous medium; a member for opening and closing the jet; 'means providing a pivotal support for said member, the axis of the pivot being normal'tobut displaced from the axis of the jet opening; and a bracket ior the pivotal support; a pin'about which the bracket'is angularlyadjustable; said pin :having an axis parallel to the axis of the'pivot andadjacent the jet opening.

:10. 'In a valve structurer-a pair of jets having opposed openings for passing-aegaseous medium through the jets; apivotally mounted control' rnember projecting between the jets-and movable to and-from each of the jets,said memher having opposed sides cooperating respectively'with' the jets'tdclose them; said sides having surfaces'that become coplanar with the-endisurfacesofthei'jets when said side-surfacesengage said-end isur'iaoes; aibracket for the=control-memher; and means pivotally and adjustably securing sa-id bracket with respect tosaid jets operable to :permit relative movement therebetween in a direction normal to'ithe axes of said jet openings, as well as=transverseto the axis :of pivotal'movement "of :said control member.

11. In a valvestrncture: a pair' of. jets having opposed openi-ngs for passing a gaseous medium through --=the jets; ea {pivotally mounted control member vproject-ing between lthe jets andmovable wand-from I each: of the ',jets,-'-:said member having opposed -si'des cooperizting respectively with the jets to olose them; said :sides having surfaces-that becom'e poplanaravith the end-surface's of 'the j ets whenasaid zside surfaces =engage said end-surfacesia bracket for thecontrol anembenpamo'unting for said bracket; means pivotally and adjustably securing -i'said mounting with respect to said ,jets :operable to spermit-relative angular movement therebetween-about an axis normal-to the'axes ofzsaid jet openings and betweenwsaid jet openings; and means adjustably securing :said bracket on "said mounting eperable -:to permit relative movement therebetween in-la -wzlire'ction norrnal to the axes 0f #said tjet openings,-a's "well astran'sverseto the axis of pivotal m'ovement of said control member.

.12. in o, valve-structure a' valve body having a l ported :ipa-rti-tion'and a valve zseat around the port; a closure member cooperating with the seat aemovable wall carrying the closure membergameans forming-With said' wallpa pressure chamber;--a;pair of jets7havih'g opposed openings iii-said chamber :forpassing a :gaseous medium into and out-of said chaniber and a control unit insertable in:=said=cl iamber,"comprising a control memberadapted *to epr-ojectbetween said jets and: {pivotally :movable betweenthem, said Icontrol @member having opposite sides coop'erable respectively with th'e' jets to 'close themp'sai'cl sides having surfaces that become icoplanar 'with the end surfaces or the nets when saidside surfaces engageesaid end-"surfaces; an -operator ifor thecontro'lrmember,;'a':bracket securing said operator -:a-ndiguiding said =control member "for "cooperation -with -=-said-=operator; "a -mounting for said bracket; means "-'.adjnstably :securing said bracket to said mounting; means --.adjustably securingsaid mounting with respect to :said jets; one of said:adjustablevsecuring' means being ope1-able=:to-.:per'mit movementof the axis of pivotal movementof-said control :member "in a direction towardeand away :fromisaidrjet openings, and" the other of 'said adjustable securing' 'means' "being pivotally mountedetoqpesmit flangular movement of said axis'about an axis massing between said jet-:openings.

---2L 3. in a valvewstructure 'a valve "body' having a-iported partition and a "valvezseataround the port; a- :closure member cooperating with the seat :wa movable-wall-carrying the'iclosure :rnemberr rneans'wforming, with saidiwall, :a pressure chamber; a pair of jets 'rhaving iopposedparallel openings in said chambertfor" passing .'a :gaseous medium into andwout oi said chamber; a control memberwmcunted :nn-"aniaxis'snormal to, but displaced from," the --axes of the "jet openings, :said member -=having aopposite sides i cooperating. respectively --withthe :jet openings to close "them, said -sides -having= :zsur'f aces substantially' equally and oppositely rinclinedwith respect to-said "axis of said control memberyrmeansaguiding said'controlmember tor -pivotal :movement about its -axie;-=and-- means pivotally-"and adjustably semove said control member axis about an axis normal to the axes of said jet openings and passing between said jet openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number 10 Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Shaw Sept. 9, 1913 Hubbard Mar. 31, 1936 Ray Aug. 11, 1942 Smoot Sept. 9, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Sweden Dec. 5, 1944 

